Anonymous Donor Drops Rare Gold Coin into Salvation Army Kettle

It’s a familiar sight and sound during the Christmas season – volunteers ringing bells as passersby drop bills and coins into red kettles as part of the Salvation Army’s annual campaign.

On Christmas Eve, an anonymous donor dropped a rare gold coin into a Salvation Army donation bucket at Giant Eagle in Washington. The coin, a Queen Elizabeth II coin valued at more than $2,700, was wrapped in a $1 bill with a note tucked inside.

“I was dumbfounded,” said Lt. Tom Perez of the Salvation Army in Washington. “My wife and I weren’t going to count the buckets that night; we thought we’d come in Friday and count, but I said, ‘Let’s do it, let’s get a couple volunteers and get it done.'”

Perez pulled out a dollar bill with tape around it. Inside were the coin and a note.

“Initially, I thought it was a fake coin,” said Perez.

It was not.

Perez had the coin appraised, and it turned out to be the real deal.

This year marks the fourth consecutive year a mystery donor has placed a rare coin in a red kettle.

Perez doesn’t know who dropped the coin inside the bucket, but he said that the money from the coin is a huge help for the organization’s fundraising efforts this year.

The Washington Salvation Army exceeded its $60,000 goal, raising more than $71,750, not counting online donations.

In recent years, secret Santas have been leaving rare gold coins in kettles across the country.

Perez is grateful for the anonymous donor’s generosity.

“It was a remarkable gesture that not only symbolizes generosity, but also played a part in helping us exceed our fundraising goal for the year,” said Perez. “There is such a severe need in this community, and all of the donations, including the coin, enable us to be a blessing to people here.”